Bill > H0717

Introduced Session

An act relating to consumer protection; amending s. 501.0051, F.S.; prohibiting consumer reporting agencies from charging to reissue or provide a new unique personal identifier to certain consumers, rather than authorizing such agencies to charge the customers' representatives; amending s. 624.307, F.S.; revising a requirement for persons licensed or authorized by the Department of Financial Services or the Office of Insurance Regulation to respond to the department's Division of Consumer Services regarding consumer complaints; amending s. 624.501, F.S.; deleting a fee for adjusting firm licenses; amending s. 626.112, F.S.; removing a provision requiring the department to automatically convert registrations of approved registered insurance agencies to insurance agency licenses; prohibiting unlicensed activity by an adjusting firm unless the firm complies with a specified requirement; providing an exemption; providing an exemption from licensure for branch firms that meet certain criteria; providing an administrative penalty for failing to apply for certain licensure; providing a criminal penalty for aiding or abetting unlicensed activity; creating s. 626.5813, F.S.; defining the term "claims adjusting"; prohibiting a person from providing claims adjusting services unless the person meets specified requirements; amending s. 626.602, F.S.; authorizing the department to disapprove the use of insurance agency names containing the words "Medicare" or "Medicaid"; providing a time-limited exception for certain insurance agencies; prohibiting relicensing of insurance agencies using such names; providing for future expiration of such licenses; providing an exception from future expiration; amending s. 626.621, F.S.; adding grounds on which the department may take certain actions against a license, appointment, or application of certain insurance representatives; amending ss. 626.782 and 626.783, F.S.; revising the definitions of the terms "industrial class insurer" and "ordinary-combination class insurer," respectively, to conform to changes made by the act; repealing s. 626.796, F.S., relating to the representation of multiple insurers in the same industrial debit territory; amending s. 626.854, F.S.; revising the timeframes in which an insured or claimant may cancel a public adjuster's contract to adjust a claim without penalty or obligation; requiring that certain public adjuster's contracts include a specified disclosure; specifying requirements for written estimates of loss provided by public adjusters to claimants or insureds; prohibiting licensed contractors and subcontractors from engaging in certain activities unless licensed and compliant as public adjusters; amending s. 626.916, F.S.; providing a disclosure requirement that an insurance coverage must meet before being eligible for export under the Surplus Lines Law; amending s. 626.9541, F.S.; adding certain acts or practices to the definition of the term "sliding" as unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts; amending s. 626.9741, F.S.; requiring an insurer's notification regarding certain credit report or score information to include specified language under certain circumstances; amending ss. 626.9953, 626.9957, and 627.062, F.S.; conforming cross-references; amending s. 627.502, F.S.; prohibiting a life insurer from writing new policies of industrial life insurance beginning on a certain date; amending s. 627.70131, F.S.; providing that communication made to or by an insurer's representative, rather than to or by an insurer's agent, constitutes communication to or by the insurer; replacing the defined term "agent" with the term "representative"; revising the timeframe in which an insurer must begin an investigation after receipt of proof of loss statements; requiring an insurer- assigned licensed adjuster to provide the policyholder with certain information; specifying information that must be included in certain communication with the policyholder regarding a claim; requiring an insurer to keep records of the licensed adjusters interacting with policyholders; requiring an insurer to establish a process to provide the policyholder, the office, or the department with a list of adjusters associated with a claim; requiring an insurer to include specified notices when providing preliminary or partial damage estimates or claim payments; providing applicability; creating s. 627.7031, F.S.; prohibiting foreign venue clauses in property insurance policies; providing applicability; amending s. 627.7142, F.S.; revising circumstances under which an insurer must provide a Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights to a policyholder; revising information contained in the Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 631.57, F.S.; deleting a deductible on the obligation of the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association, Incorporated, as to certain covered claims; amending s. 631.904, F.S.; revising the definition of the term "covered claim" to exclude certain premium returns; amending s. 648.30, F.S.; providing penalties for a licensed bail bond agent or temporary bail bond agent who knowingly engages in certain activities; providing effective dates.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Chuck Clemons (R)*,  Thomas Leek (R),  Allison Tant (D), 

Other Sponsors (2)

Laid on Table; companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/SB 1598 (Ch. 2021-104), CS/CS/CS/SB 76 (Ch. 2021-77) (on 04/27/2021)

Official Document